What Not to Expect: Signs of a Developmentally Disabled Child

Children develop skills on their own schedule with a wide range of when children should reach milestones. However, parents can expect children to develop certain skills by a certain age. If you aren't seeing this progress in your child, it could signal a developmental delay.

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Developmental Milestones

From the day a baby is born, parents often anticipate each milestone a child will reach as she grows. Although each child is an individual who will develop on her own schedule, every child should be able to do certain tasks by a certain age. These tasks fall into the categories of gross motor skills, fine motor skills, language skills, thinking skills, and social skills. Each of these categories is listed below, as well as a list of some signs of a developmentally disabled child. The approximate age when a child should typically develop these skills also follows.

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Signs of a Developmental Delay: Gross Motor Skills

Cannot raise head and chest when lying on stomach by 3 months

Cannot roll from back to stomach and stomach to back by 6 months

Has abnormal muscle tone – either floppy or stiff muscles

Does not sit without support by 9 months

Does not crawl by 9 months

Cannot walk with or without support by 12 months

Cannot walk independently by 18 months

Does not run by 2 years

Cannot climb well by 3 years

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Fine Motor Skills

Does not grasp objects by 3 months

Does not move objects from hand to hand by 6 months

Inability to pick up smaller objects and control coordination by 12 months

Cannot draw circles and squares by 4 years

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Language Skills, Including Speech and Comprehension

Lack of smiles or other joyful expressions by 6 months

Lack of response to name by 7 months

Lack of back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions by 9 months

No babbling by 12 months

Does not point, reach, wave, or make back-and-forth gestures by 12 months

Social Skills

Displays unusual, repetitive behavior such as rocking, hand-flapping, or spinning

Shows preoccupation with lining up objects or making patterns

Has poor eye contact

Prefers to play alone

Does not get along with non-family members by 4 years

If parents notice any of these signs of a developmentally disabled child, they should talk to their pediatrician immediately. If the doctor does not take the concerns seriously, find one who will. Early diagnosis and intervention is vital in helping a child reach her full potential.